Baptism

If there is nothing spiritual that happens in baptism, what use is it? If it is merely a "public identification with the Church," why is it not performed in full view of downtown? Repeatedly? Maybe we should sell t-shirts that say "Got Baptism?" You know, since it's public and identification and stuff?

Heck, if it's merely public identification with the Church, why restrict it to those who've made a proclamation of faith in Jesus Christ? If you walk in the door three or more times a month, hey! You're identified with the church! Here's some water!

And if it's merely "public" "identification" with "the Church," who cares how the H2O is administered?

Sorry, not buying it. Either something spiritual *does* happen during and at the moment of baptism, or else Christians need to match their actions with their beliefs.

- "Pops"

Cynical Idealism?

Idealism = Action
Cynicism = Reaction

Wash, rinse, repeat.

The defendant rules – Not Guilty!

Yep! We finally have an international precedent that the United States can really benefit in implementing – asking the defendant for the judicial ruling.

Why didn't anyone think of this before?

Fortunately, we are already seeing the promotion of this new doctrine in the United States. As the Weekly Standard points out, even the Senate Intelligence Committee forgets the evidence in order to favor the validity of Saddam's own testimony.

At least this idea was discovered in time for Saddam Hussein to benefit from it. Abdullah Al-Amiri, the chief judge presiding over Saddam's trial, expressly said, "You were not a dictator. People around you made you … a dictator."

Brilliant! Next time we have a mass murderer on trial in the United States, we can forgo the jury, judge, lawyers and cost to the judicial system … just take the defendants word for it.

A bit of defribulation ...

*Clear! Ca-GZT!*

Consider Radical-Traditions resurrected. Posting will now have the usual semi-constant schedule. Rejoice, for the whippersnapping has returned.

:-)

-Matt

My Truth

I recently signed up for an online English and Composition class. One of the requirements for the grade was a discussion on Plato's transcript of a Socratic dialogue with Meno about the origins of virtue. On the discussion board, I am one of the few to argue, as Socrates did, that virtue couldn't be taught and is inherent in each human being.

I have gotten plenty of responses. After developing a fairly lengthy conversation with another student, she concludes: "I accept your opinion and appreciate your effort for trying to persuade me to your truth." She was very nice, but essentially asked me to agree to disagree.

This got me thinking a little bit … my truth. Can truth be multifaceted? Do multiple forms of it exist?

If we want it to remain truth … no.

Truth is defined as "conformity with fact or reality." I have never found a fact that worked "both ways." While one person's interpretation of a fact may certainly differ from another, the fact in question cannot change – or else it ceases to be a fact.

So if I hold that human nature is flawed, for example, and you do not … how can we resolve to disagree? These statements are directly contrary to one another. For one to be true, the other must be false. George Orwell identified it as a part of "doublethink," holding two adverse truths in the mind simultaneously and conveniently erecting a barrier between them.

In a discussion for truth, all roads don't lead to Rome. To simply differ is to halt all discussion and remain content and unchallenged. Unfortunately, this is what our culture applauds: not the discussion to find truth, but the allowance of all contrary "truths." If truth is not an absolute … if there is no right answer … what is the point of searching?

Maybe it's the debater in me, but I want resolution. I want more than to go our separate ways. Convince me! Show me why I'm wrong. Give me a reason why you value your idea of truth (for that's all it is, an idea) over mine. "Just because" is not a valid answer.

In conclusion, the differences between my idea of truth and someone else's may be substantial. That is something worth discussing. Therefore, let's discuss it! Simply parting our separate ways doesn't help me understand … nor come closer to understanding reality.